A1 Journal article (refereed)
‘Don’t ever mix God with sports’ : Christian religion in athletes’ stories of life transitions (2020)


Ronkainen, N. J., Ryba, T. V., & Tod, D. (2020). ‘Don’t ever mix God with sports’ : Christian religion in athletes’ stories of life transitions. Sport in Society, 23(4), 613-628. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2019.1599199


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editorsRonkainen, Noora J.; Ryba, Tatiana V.; Tod, David

Journal or seriesSport in Society

ISSN1743-0437

eISSN1743-0445

Publication year2020

Volume23

Issue number4

Pages range613-628

PublisherRoutledge

Publication countryUnited Kingdom

Publication languageEnglish

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2019.1599199

Publication open accessNot open

Publication channel open access

Publication is parallel published (JYX)https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/68302

Publication is parallel publishedhttp://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/10653/

Additional informationSpecial Issue: Transitions in Sport Life


Abstract

Sport psychology researchers have increasingly recognized the need to adopt a holistic perspective when seeking to understand athletes’ adaptation to life transitions. The present study sought to understand how religion influences athletes’ journeys in sport and experiences of life transitions. Two Christian elite athletes participated in life story interviews which we analyzed via narrative analysis. Although the participants narratively separated religious belief from sport, religion, as a source of basic world assumptions and values, provided a broader framework of meaning and continuity in their sport lives. Yet, both stories involved a growing distance to institutional religious practices and movement towards individualized religiosity as they traversed cultural and developmental transitions. For applied practitioners, it is important to be aware of the unique ways in which religion influences the sport life and to recognize personal and cultural attitudes that will shape their applied work with religious athletes.


KeywordsChristianity (religions)athletesidentity (mental objects)adaptation (change)

Free keywordschristianity; career transition; life meaning; athletic identity; adaptation


Contributing organizations

Other organizations:


Ministry reportingYes

Reporting Year2020

JUFO rating1


Last updated on 2024-14-02 at 15:27